No Vande Mataram in Meerut municipal corporation meetings after new BSP mayor revokes BJP’s order

After the Uttar Pradesh civic polls 2017, the new Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Mayor Sunita Verma in Meerut, has reversed the previous order by former Mayor which made the singing of national song Vande Mataram mandatory in municipal corporation. The new BSP Mayor in Meerut has said that it's not mandatory to sing Vande Mataram before municipal corporation proceedings in the city.

By

NewsX Bureau

|

Updated

:

8 December 2017,

11:46 AM

New BSP Mayor in Meerut has revoked former BJP Mayor's order which made it mandatory for officials to sing Vande Mataram in corporation meetings

The new Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Mayor Sunita Verma in Meerut, who took charge of the city following the recently held civic polls in Uttar Pradesh, has issued an order asking employees not to sing Vande Mataram before municipal corporation proceedings. The singing of Vande Mataram is a routine there and something which was being practiced for a long time. However, following the orders by the new BSP Mayor in the city, Vande Matram will not be sung by the officials. According to new guidelines, the earlier practice of singing the national anthem, Jan Gan Man after municipal corporation proceedings will be continued. The new Mayor in Meerut said, “As per the constitution of the municipal board, our National Anthem ‘Jan Gan Man’ will be sung before board meetings and not ‘Vande Mataram.”

Reacting to the new orders by the new BSP Mayor in Meerut, BJP workers in the city said that they will oppose the new rule being implemented by the Mayor. BJP workers said that since Vande Mataram is our national song and given that it is being sung for years now, we will definitely sing in any condition. Going against the new order by Mayor Sunita Verma, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Karunesh Nandan Gard said that they will protest against this decision in and outside the municipal corporation. “If the mayor tries to dictate terms then our municipal councillor will go on the roads and sing Vande Mataram in protest.”

In the recently concluded Uttar Pradesh civic polls, BSP’s Sunita Verma defeated BJP’s state party vice-president Kanta Kardam and won the mayoral seat in Meerut city. BSP also won the mayoral seat in Aligarh. Prior to Sunita Verma, the previous Meerut Mayor, Harikant Ahluwalia of the BJP had made it mandatory for officials to sing Vande Mataram while mentioning that membership of those who will not sing will be terminated.